Police: Pizza Hut employee shoots, kills robbery suspect

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A west Charlotte Pizza Hut employee shot and killed a man who was trying to rob the restaurant early Sunday morning, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police.

Police were called to 3215 Freedom Drive around 1:38 a.m. to a report of a person who was shot inside the restaurant, which was closed at the time.

When officers arrived on the scene they found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Medic.

Investigators determined three people entered the restaurant and were in the process of robbing it when one of the employees fired his own personal handgun at one of the suspects, according to police. One person was shot.

A handgun was recovered at the scene that police say was carried by the robbery suspect at the time he was shot. The two other robbery suspects ran from the scene and have not been located at this time.

There were no customers inside at the time of the incident. The investigation continues and no names have been released.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call 704-432-TIPS and speak directly to a Homicide Unit Detective.